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By Megan M Perry

The recent rise in SUVs has left minivans somewhat in the lurch. Since SUVs are generally much bigger, more comfortable and capable of hauling greater weights, minivans have been left behind in recent years, despite their many considerable advantages. In addition to being generally more fuel efficient and less prone to rollovers, their simple construction, sturdy weight, and on-road reliability makes them much less expensive to insure. They also tend to be less likely to be involved in accidents, both because they handle well and because of key psychological effects that minivans and SUVs have on their drivers. As such, minivans offer a considerable advantage over many other types of car when it comes to auto insurance.

The number one reason that minivans are less expensive to insure is that they are much more resistant to sustaining damage in minor accidents. Minivans are small, low and compact, enabling any force incurred in a crash to be distributed over a wide area, dissipating the energy and minimizing the damage. Additionally, while more prone to rollover in a sharp turn than comparable sedans and hatchbacks, the concentration of weight deep within the body means that minivans are difficult to roll over, and their shape allows for a very solidly reinforced roof to prevent passenger injury during a rollover. Lastly, since most minivans offer excellent view and large amounts of room with good restraints, passengers within the vans are also less likely to suffer injury in the event of a crash. The passive and non-aggressive nature of minivans also helps the driver to be courteous and minivan drivers have consistently been shown to be more courteous and cautious than other types of drivers.

Of course no two minivans will have the exact same insurance rate. Older minivans will tend to require less insurance, because they have a lower value and are more likely to be totaled than repaired in the event of an accident. Additionally, vans with greater safety features tend to require lower insurance rates, since the passengers are less likely to be injured and thus file a claim. Basic models cost less to insure than more complex ones, and models intended to carry cargo will be less expensive to insure than those which carry passengers.

Therefore, if insurance costs are a factor when purchasing a minivan, it would be a good idea to purchase a used vehicle with a good safety record, safe restraints, and moderate usage. Many popular van models have changed very little over the years, allowing you to get a van that looks and feels almost like a new one yet is much less to insure. Additionally, older vans will have a known crash record, allowing you to choose a vehicle which is easy and inexpensive to insure and repair.

Megan Perry is a writer who enjoys sharing her knowledge and advice with a variety of different readers in a number of different subjects and fields. For more information about insurance, Quazen offers readers information on some of the cheapest minivans to insure.

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